Word Meanings

    "When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean." -- Humpty Dumpty
   "The question is, whether you can make words mean so many different things." -- Alice
   "The question is, which is to be master." -- H.D.

   Lawyers argue over what words mean. They go to court, where a moderator judges who has the better argument -- which has mastered the language.
   That doesn't mean one is right and the other is wrong; only that one is better at arguing. All of this assumes that only lawyers are capable of understanding the meanings of words. In turn, this leads to the phrase, "I'm not a lawyer, but ..."
   Editors also understand word meanings, as do linguists, readers and writers.
   So if you like to argue, become a lawyer, and play the word game. Otherwise, become a journalist.
   This brings us to the current discussion of the "insurrection" on January 6, 2021, as supporters of Donald Trump stormed the Capitol to prevent Congress from certifying the results of the presidential election two months earlier.
   The Constitution's 14th Amendment prohibits anyone from holding any public office if that person engaged in insurrection or encouraged those who do, giving them "aid and comfort."
   So did Donald Trump actually do that in his speech to supporters just before they invaded the Capitol? And several hours later, did he comfort them even as he urged them to leave the building?
   All of that was seen live on national television, so Americans know what he said and did that day.
   Now, the legal system is taking action against those who were active in the demonstrations, and punishing them according to law. Also, some of Trump's aides are facing contempt of Congress charges for not cooperating in the investigation of events that day.
   Did they give "aid and comfort" to the insurrectionists? And did the former president also give similar support to them as part of his effort to stay in office?
   All of this means that Donald Trump can no longer hold any office, civil or military, under the United States because he gave aid and comfort to those who participated in the insurrection.
   And if it can be proven that he somehow engaged in that insurrection himself, that would be an even more severe violation of the Constitution. During his speech to the demonstrators, he said he would march with them to the Capitol. He did not, however, perhaps his advisors persuaded him that it was not only unsafe, but a violation of the Constitution -- participating in the insurrection.
   Meanwhile, he continues to hint that he may again run for office. Whether he does, or whether he decides to abide by the Constitution and not seek office, are two key questions.

Bigotry in America

    For all the talk about the "self evident truth" that all are created equal, the reality about American history and current events is that many do not believe it.
   From the early years when natives were forced from their home territories by newcomers, through the census years when slaves were counted as less than a person, then to the 19th Century when immigrants were refused jobs because of their national origin -- a practice that continues despite legal prohibition -- to the current time that sees racial epithets chanted by political protestors, bigotry in many forms puts people of some groups the target of prejudice in hiring, voting, home ownership, education and other social activities.
   Currently, the lamp beside the Golden Door of liberty shines brightly for refugees from Ukraine, but the door remains shut for those from Central America. Newcomers from Asia and Africa also face more challenges than those from Europe.
   Why, then, are some refugees welcome but others are not?
   Bigotry varies by preconceived notions of importance, usually based on ethnicity, race, religion and social status.
   The word prejudice is rooted in the term "to pre-judge," or to decide on a person's value even before meeting and getting to know that individual. Is American society better than it was as it reduces the amount of blatant bigotry?
   Perhaps. But that could be only in how blatant that bigotry is.
   Refugees from Ukraine are being welcomed to America. Yet refugees from other countries are not. The question remains, Why?

Warning

    President Joe Biden warned that  the Russian president "cannot remain in power" if he continues to push military action in Ukraine.

   A Kremlin spokesman noted that this "should only be a choice of the people of the Russian Federation."

   Compare that to the desire of the people of Ukraine to keep their own president in power.

Religious Freedom

    The Constitution guarantees everyone's right to practice religion as they prefer, but it does not enable people to impose their beliefs on others.
   That's the crux of a federal court ruling in a Kentucky case where a county clerk refused to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple, claiming "God's authority" prohibited her from doing so.
   But to defend that refusal on religious grounds combines church and state policies, which is banned by the Constitution. In effect, the clerk joined religious beliefs with government law.
   Church officials can  decline to perform a marriage ceremony for any couple, be they two-gender or same-gender, citing that institution's religious belief system, but that is separate from state law. In either case, the couple needs a marriage license, which is issued by the state and not the church.
   The couple need only obtain a license from the state, and then sign their partnership. Whether there is a formal ceremony in doing so is entirely up to them. Marriage is a civil contract.

Watching World

    "The whole world is watching" was the chant a few decades ago as protestors raised objections to government behavior in America.

   That was in 1968, as Chicago police tried to round up anti-war demonstrators at the Democratic political convention.
   The problem today is that while the world is indeed watching what Russia is doing in Ukraine, and people in Russia itself are objecting, the government there denies any guilt or responsibility for the many deaths of civilians and destruction of schools and hospitals where people seek shelter.
   Now the question becomes, what will other governments do as multiple accusations of war crimes are raised around the world?
   Active involvement by the military of other nations could bring retaliation by the Moscow government, and observers worry this will bring on a world war.
   For the time being, other nations are cutting off trade with Russia, hoping that withholding critical supplies will persuade the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, to withdraw from Ukraine.
   The fear is, however, that this would be equivalent to admitting defeat, and that, observers say, is not something Putin is likely to do.
   Unless there is a popular insurrection in Russia itself.

Asylum?

    People at the Texas border trying to escape violence in their home country are welcomed as refugees if they come from Ukraine, but if their home country is Honduras or El Salvador they are turned away as "illegal immigrants."
   There's a word to describe that attitude. It's called racism.

Putin Strikes Out

  There are hints that the Russian invasion of Ukraine will fail, and Putin will be deposed.
   Popular resistance to the invasion is widespread and nearly total among the Ukrainian people, who also have strong support from other nations. Even in Russia, despite government efforts to stifle opposition to the invasion, the people there are staging mass protests against the action.
   Whether the Russian leader will resort to using atomic weapons in Ukraine and against other nations who support the Ukrainian people is an open question. Meanwhile, significant damage has been done to Putin's power in Russia, and his continuing efforts to stifle opposition with military force may backfire and he will be ousted.
   Speculation? Certainly. But possible.